Fluorescent electric tube socket and tube holder



y 13r1943 J. w. KELCHNER, JR

I FLOURESCENT ELECTRIC TUBE SOCKET AND TUBE HOLDER Filed June 8, 1942 M w 5. 6 y w t ,w.% W

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Patented May 18, 1943 FLUORESCENT ELECTRIC TUBE SOCKET AND TUBE HOLDER John W. Kelclmer, Jr., TonawandzaN. Y. Application June 8, 1942, Serial No. 446,224

2 Claims.

My invention relates to illumination, and has among its objectsand advantages the provision of an improved socket and tube holder for fluorescent electric tubes.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of the socket and holder in association with one end of the tube;

Figure 2 is an end view; and

Figure 3 is a perspectivewiew of the tube holder.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, the tube I is of the conventional type and is supported atboth ends. Figure 1 illustrates support at one end only of the tube, which support comprises a. body l2 having a tube socket l4 secured thereto in right angular relationship therewith. Means for detachably connecting the tube ID with the socket l4 comprises a holder [6, best illustrated in Figure 3. This holder comprises a single piece of wire bent to provide a loop l8 adapted to encircle the tube I0 and lie within a circumferential groove 20 in the usual metallic cap at the end of the tube.

The loop [8 terminates in a neck formation 22 comprising wire lengths 24 arranged in slightly converging relationship in a direction away from the loop and bent at 26 to provide parallel lengths 28 arranged at right angles to the axis of the neck 22. The lengths 28 terminate in bends 30 to provide right angular lengths 32 terminating in bends 34 to provide two lengths 36 paralleling the respective lengths 28 and coacting with the latter and the lengths 32 to provide a socket-encircling loop 38'of generally rectangular configuration in conformity with the cross sectional contour of the socket l4. One of the lengths 36 .is bent to provide an upstandlng pin 40 and the other length is bent to provide a depending pin 42 arranged in axial alignment with the ping.

In operation, the loop 18 fits snugly within the groove 20 to hold the tube in a firm manner. The socket I4 is notched at 44 for the reception of the lengths 32 .to restrain the loop 38 from relative axial movement on the socket I4. The

a loop 38 has snug? fitting engagement with the l socket l4, and the pins 40 and 42 also engage the socket to brace the loop 38. Thus the tube lll is held firmly in assembled relationship with the socket [4 to restrain the tube from accidental shifting and to eliminate arcing incident to; loose connections. The holder is bent from wire having the necessary resiliency to resist deformation when being assembled with the tube and the socket as well as to provide a tensioned connection between the holder and the tube and the socket.

The body 12 is extended beyond the socket I! to provide a mount for a starter 46 so that the starter may be removed and replaced without disturbing the tube. In connecting the tube with the socket, the tube is first connected with the loop 18 and the loop 38 is then slipped into position on the socket I4.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

51. The combination of a socket, an illuminating tube having end engagement with the socket, a holder having a loop embracing the tube and a loop embracing the socket to connect the tube and the socket, and means extending upwardly and downwardly from the loop embracing the socket and contacting with the socket to restrain that loop from rocking to hold the tube in firm engagement with the socket.

2. The combination of a socket, an illuminating tube having end engagement with the socket, a holder havingfirst and second loops embracing the tube and socket respectively, the inner and outer sides of said second loop being each of two-part formation, said second loop 

